Countertops

Our tough tests reveal materials that hold up

In addition to granite and laminate, our countertop Ratings (available to subscribers) now includes bamboo, recycled glass, and soapstone. Though bamboo may be eco-friendly, it isn't user-friendly. In fact, it is the worst-performing countertop material we've ever tested and is the lowest-scoring product in this entire issue.

Granite and quartz, an engineered stone, were the only materials that aced most tests. Soapstone, which some of you might remember from your high school chemistry lab, wasn't as durable as granite, but it did better than limestone and marble. You'll have to rub the soapstone with mineral oil to reveal and maintain its beauty—something your science teacher probably didn't do.

Laminate is practical and pretty, and it resisted stains, heat, and impact almost as well as much more expensive materials. And better imaging technology has improved laminate's look.

For months our lab looked like a dinner-party nightmare as we stained, sliced, scratched, scorched, and nicked materials from leading brands. Except for recycled glass, our tests revealed enormous differences among materials but little variation among brands. That's why the Ratings (available to subscribers) are by material. Here are the details:

Bamboo finishes last

Bamboo is available in several styles. We tested one that had long, horizontal strips and another that used end grains to produce a parquet effect. They looked wonderful when they were new but were easily stained, sliced, scraped, and dented, despite the several coats of beeswax we applied, as the manufacturer recommends. And our hot pot left an unsightly and permanent scorch mark.

A glass counter cracked

Take shards of recycled glass, turn them into a countertop, and the result is an infusion of color and style. If the glass is finely ground, the counters resemble solid surfacing. Most of the recycled-glass counters we tested resisted cuts, heat, and abrasion very well. That's what you'll see in the Ratings (available to subscribers). One brand, Cosentino's Eco line, also withstood cuts and scratches but cracked when we placed a hot pot on it. The crack ran from under the pot to the counter's edge, where the split was the widest. As the surface cooled, the crack was barely visible but remained. That happened to the 2-centimeter-thick (about 0.75-inch) and 3-centimeter-thick (about 1.2-inch) versions.

We toughen our stain scoring

We applied 20 common stains and let them stand overnight before cleaning, just as you might if you missed a spot while cleaning or were too pooped to wipe down your counters after a party. If any stains remained, the counter didn't get an excellent score.